02/2019 – Quality and precision for 130 years
From the “Meterfabrik” to global production / Patented quality / Spirit levels for a lifetime of work / Attractive anniversary set
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Press contact
STABILA Messgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH
Landauer Straße 45
76855 Annweiler / Germany
E-Mail: press@de.stabila.com
In 1886, the Ullrich brothers received the patent for a spring-loaded joint. This allowed the rules to be folded to save space. | Up to 10,000 spirit levels a day are produced at the STABILA factory in Annweiler in Germany’s Palatinate region and then go on to be sold worldwide. The permanently cast vial ensures maximum precision and durability even when subjected to high loads.
“Meterfabrik” – or metre factory: this was the name that Gustav Ullrich gave to the factory he founded in 1889 in Annweiler in Germany’s Palatinate region, and which marked the start of STABILA’s history as a producer of rules and spirit levels. In 2019, this measuring tools specialist is celebrating its 130th anniversary with a product range that now also includes electronic measuring tools and lasers. Accordingly, the company is able to serve the entire process chain – from the idea right the way through to production – with a high degree of vertical integration and sophisticated materials management. A large number of products are made in Germany and for many decades all of them have enjoyed an excellent reputation, both in trade and industrial applications.
Patented quality
Although they may be taken for granted today, when Anton Ullrich, the uncle of company founder Gustav Ullrich, produced the first rules with a spring-loaded joint in the 1880s, they were a real sensation! The mechanism allowed the rules to be folded, meaning they could be extended, achieve the required rod function after clicking precisely into place and be stored away neatly to save space when not in use. Anton and his brother Franz Ullrich received a patent for this fantastic idea in 1886. The rules which STABILA produces today comply with the Measuring Instruments Directive which applies throughout Europe and have the CE and metrology marking as well as EC Type Examination Certificates. They are primarily distributed via the advertising material industry and trade, and finished with highquality inscriptions.
Further innovations have also formed part of the history of the company, which has been selling its products under the brand name STABILA since 1929. For many professional users, the spirit levels in particular epitomise the high quality of the brand – and there are good reasons for this: since 1952, vials have been produced from high-strength acrylic glass and STABILA is the first German manufacturer to use light metal for its spirit levels. 1979 saw STABILA receive the patent for the world’s most stable vial mounting system. The vials are permanently cast in the profiles using a special method involving synthetic resin. This ensures life-long accuracy even under the most extreme loads and without the need for readjustment. Even after being dropped, the spirit level measures just as accurately as it did on the first day. Today, up to 10,000 spirit levels are produced each day at the Annweiler factory and then go on to be sold worldwide. Despite a high degree of automation, a large number of production steps are completed by hand in order to ensure maximum precision.
The attractive 1889 Edition anniversary set of spirit levels is available in two designs and comprises three 1889 spirit levels in lengths of 40 cm, 60 cm and 100 cm or 120 cm, as well as the 1889 Pocket spirit level.
Four in a set
Professional users can look forward to a very special offer over the course of the anniversary year. The 1889 Edition anniversary spirit level set, which is available in two designs, comprises four spirit levels: three 1889 spirit levels in lengths of 40 cm in white, 60 cm in yellow and 100 cm or 120 cm in black. With a classic profile and coated measuring surface, they are easy and convenient to use and deliver accuracy of 0.5 mm/m in normal position and 1.0 mm/m in reverse position. In addition, a plastic, mini-format 1889 Pocket spirit level is also included to carry out quick horizontal alignments. Each of the spirit levels are inscribed with the STABILA anniversary logo and are delivered in sales-boosting combined anniversary cardboard packaging.
STABILA – How true pro's measure
STABILA is a world-renowned and distinguished manufacturer of top-quality, branded measuring tools. Active in more than 80 countries with its own sales companies, representatives and importers, the STABILA brand is the first choice for millions of professional tradespeople in important measurement technology sectors.
The product range comprises spirit levels, line and rotation lasers, electronic measuring tools, rules and tape measures. Approximately 600 employees are committed to STABILA’s success worldwide, including around 350 in Germany at the headquarters in Annweiler in the Palatinate. In addition to the main factory in Germany, where all of the STABILA spirit levels, electronic measuring tools and high-end rotation lasers are manufactured, STABILA also maintains its own factories in the Czech Republic (rules) and China (laser measuring tools).
It owes its worldwide success and strong growth to its innovative strength, application-oriented product development in close cooperation with construction and trade professionals, modern production technologies and the consistent development of its sales and marketing activities.